Vertical coking retort oven



g- 23 1932- J. VAN ACKE'REN 1,873 075 VERTICAL COKING RETORT OVEN FiledApril 12, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Jose ob ran flake/m g- 23,1932- J. VAN ACKEREN I 1,

VERTICAL COKING RETORT OVEN Filed April 12. 1927 5 Sheets-5heet 2 "fmmma.

, INVENTOR W Jose 0x9 rarzflc/ferexz W ATTOR Y Aug; 23, 1932.

J. VA N ACKEREN VERTICAL COKING RETORT OVEN Filed April 12. 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 3 'INVENTOR Jase 0b ra/iflcke/"ezz W ATTORZY Z lu wn.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES ATENT oFFicE JOSEPH VAN AGKEREN, FPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KOPPEBS 7 COMPANY OF DELAWARE,A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE V VERTICAL COKING RETOBT OVEN Applicationfiled April 12,

invention relates to coking retort ovens of the vertical type and it hasparticular relation to means I for supporting the battery structure andfor controlling the tempera tures of the supporting means and the adjacent battery structure.

My invention has for one of its objects to provide a structure wherebythe base portion of a cokeoven battery of the vertical type is providedwith cooling means to. reduce the temperature and thereby the expansionof the lower portion of the battery.

A further object of my invention is to provide a vertical coke ovenbattery that is so 15.

constructed and arranged that the foundations thereof are not subjectedto any material forces tending to spread them when the battery is heatedto operating temperatures.

A further object of my invention is to provide supporting means havingheat-insulating means embodied therein to preventexcessive temperaturesof the supporting means.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple and effectivemeans for supporting the base of a vertical coke oven battery and whichwill readily permit the passage of columns of coke therethrough.

-A still further object of my invention is to provide means whereby thebase of a vertical burned beneath the battery with the result that thebeams were warped by the unequal heating.

When the structure referred to above has been employech it has beennecessary to sup port the coke extractor mechanism from the beams and anmtermediate structure has 1927. Serial No. 183,035.

been required to connect the extractors to the beams.

'In accordance with the present invention,

I provide means whereby much lower temperatures are maintained in thebase portion and in the supporting structure by providing air-coolingmeans for the supporting structure and part of the base portion of thebattery and, in addition, by providing-heatinsulatingmeans for a portionof the structure in contact with the hot coke. Expan sion of thesupporting structure is thereby limited. V v

The beams of the former constructions have been replaced by supportingframes which completely coverfthe brickwork of the base andare sealed atprevent leakage of gas. The frames and coke extractors are directlyconnected, and any intermediate structure is eliminated and, to thatextent, the height of the structure is diminished. j

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view, partially in end elevation and partially in section,of a vertical coke oven battery constructed in accordance with myinvention; 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partially in end elevation and partially insection, along the line 11-11 of Fig. 3, of a portion of the verticalcoke ovenbattery of Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 1s a v-iew, partiallyin side elevation adjacent edges to andpartially in sectlon along the line III-.- i

III of Fig. 2, of a portion of the coke oven battery. l r

A vertical coke oven battery 1 comprises a foundation 2, which may be ofconcrete or other suitable material, that is supported upon columns 3.The oven structure 4, which rests upon the foundation 2, is providedwith a superstructure 5. A charging car 6 supplies coal magazines 7 atthe tops of the several-retort ovens of the battery. A primary gasofftake 8 is located at the, top of each retort oven and is connected toaprimary collecting main .9. .A secondary gas offtake 10 foreach oven isconnected to a secondary collecting main 11. As shown in Figs. 2 and3,the battery 1 comprises a plurality of vertical retort ovens 12 thatalternate with heating walls 13. The battery may comprise any suitablenumber of ovens, for example, live, but only two ovens are shown herein,the remainder being identical with those shown and described. Thebattery is provided with the usual side walls 14 and 15 and regenerators16, only a portion of one of the latter appearing in Fig. 2. The ovenstructure 4 is supported upon thefoundation 2 which comprises horizontalconcrete beams 17 and 18, only portions of which appear in Figs. 2 and3, the remainder being broken away for the sake of clearness. The beams17 and 18 extend under the outside walls of the battery and aresupported upon the columns 3.

The portions of the oven structure between the beams 17 and 18 aresupported by castings or frames 19, each having a. central opening whichconforms to the bottom opening of the corresponding oven. As best shownin Fig. 3, each of the frames 19 of adjacent ovens supportssubstantially onehalf of the intermediate heating wall. As shown in Fig.2, the end portions of the frames 19 project into the beams 17 and 18and are supported thereby. Each frame 19 is provided with tie rods 20 onthe sides thereof and extending between the beams 17 and 18.

An expansion joint 22, consisting of pitch between the end of each frame19 and the beam 18 provides for the expansion of the frame 19 underordinary operating conditions without subjecting the foundations toinjurious'strains. 'An expansion joint 23 is also provided between theadjacent side edges of the frames 19 for maintaining a gas-tightconnection between them. The expansion joint 23 comprises an inner bodyof pitch that is retained by asbestos rope indicated at 24 whichoccupies a groove formed by adjacent recessed flange portions 25 of theframes 19'.

Each of the frames 19 is provided, at its upper portion, with a hollowflange 27, substantially rectangular in cross-section, and that extendsaround the periphery of the frame. The flange 27 is provided withsuitably spaced vertical reinforcing webs or walls 28, which divide theflange into compartments the dividing walls 28 being provided withcircular. openings 29 in order to provide communlcation between theseveral compartments/ The bottom walls of the side comp a-rtments areprovided.

with comparatively large openings 30, which communicate with theatmosphere.

Certain of the compartments at the end of the frame 19 are open totheatmosphere through verticalv passageways 32. The end portions of thecasting are each provided with horizontal flanges 33 and 34 that are inextension of the upper and the lower sides of the flange 27 and alsowith a flange 35, the several end flanges extending into the beams 17and 18. The spaces between the flange portions 33 and 34 communicatewith the hollow flange 27.

Immediately below the regenerators 16 are two air ducts 36 that areconnected at their outer ends to the atmosphere and at their inner endscommunicate with the space between the flanges 33 and 34 at the rightend of the frame 19, as viewed in Fig. 2. The left end of the frame 19is also connected to two air ducts 37 that communicate with theatmosphere. Accordingly, the openings 30, the passages '32, the hollowflange 27 with the openings 29 and the spaces between the flanges 33 and34 with the connected air ducts 36 and 27 constitute means forcirculating air through and around the frame 19 to cool the latter. Itwill be understood that each of the frames 19 is connected to similarducts 36 and 37.

The frame 19 is further provided with an upper inwardly extending upperflange 39 and a similar lower flange 40 that conform to the opening ofthe oven 12. The space between the flanges 39 and 40 is filled withrefractory material 41, such, for example, as firebrick, to constitutein effect an extension of the bottom opening of the oven 12. Therefractory material 41 also constitutes a heat-insulating envelope thatsurrounds the column of coke for a distance of a few feet below thebottom of the .oven. I

Beneath the frame 19and secured for support thereto is, a casing 42 ofsomewhat irregular contour that is inclined to the right,

as viewed in Fig. 3, the left-hand side of the casing 42 constituting apartial support for the column of coke. A coke extractor com prises ashaft 43 extending through the easing 42 and upon which is mounted aseries of toothed wheels 44 for the purpose ofremoving coke from thebase of the column. A series of pivotally mounted weight members 45 havetheir m vable ends adjacent to corresponding toothed wheels 44 andoperate to yieldingly prevent coke from fallingfrom the column otherthan when it is removed by the wheels 44.

Beneath the mechanism just described and supported by her or hopper 46,into which the coke falls when it leaves the casing 42. The hopper 46 isprovided, at its bottom portion, with a water-sealed door 47 that isrotatably mounted at 48. Each side of the door 27 normally immersed in awater seal 49. l/Vhen the out a discharge opening 50.

The coke-extractor casing with suitable means for quenching or coolingthe coke .after it emerges from the frame 19,

comprising a series of waterpipes 52, ,by-

means of which jets of water are applied the casing 42 is a storagechain-V door is opened, it permits coke to flow 42 is provided.

' inspection is very desirable that the-cooled coke be as dry aspossible and, to this end, means are prov-idedfor preventingany excessquenching waterfrom coming in contact with the coke in the hopper 46.The'casing 42 com- I prises a/curved portion 53 having an extendingportion 54 beneath which is located a horizontal trough 55 forcollecting any water that may flow down the side of the leasing or dripfrom the coke prior to its entry into the hopper 46. The trough 55,which extends substantially the entire length of. the coke extractor,directs the water to the inclinedend wallsof the hopper 46, by means ofwhich it is directed intothe water seal '49.- The latter may be providedwith any suitable means to take care of overflow.

The trough 55 is mounted for rocking movementby means of ears 56'andshort shafts57and 58that are rotatably supported at theirrespective-inner ends by lugs 59 and at their outer ends by theextractor casing 42. The shaft 58, which is rotatable with the trough55, extends through the casing 42, the outer end being provided with aloosely mounted handle 60, whereby the trough. may be tilted at desiredtimes to remove any breeze coke that may collect therein. The trough islocked-in position by slid ing the handle on the shaft 48. to engage astop61.-

A water pipe 62 provides means for flushing'thetrough 55 atdesiredtimesto facilitate the flow of water therein. 7 I, In the-.operationof thebattery, the ovens 1 2 are heatedby the heating walls 13, the latterbeing provided with horizontal fines 64 and 65 for conveying produotsofcombustion and with heating fiues 66, only a portion of which are shownin Fig. 3. A cross-around flue67 is shown in the wall 14, Fig. 2. Thebase of each heating wall is provided with-an opening 68.; l A pipe 69,having an outer-movable cap 70, extends through, the fl nge 27 oftheoorresponding frame 19 in registry with each opening 68 to provideaccess thereto. 7

' T he finished product in the form of a more or less compact column ofhighly heated coke emerges gradually from each oven 12 andpassesdownwardly throughthe frame19 to engage the casing 42. The columnof coke is i broken as. 1t is deflected in its downward passagetowardthe coke extractor. The pivoted weight members 45preventloose'portions: 0f the coke fromfalling until theyhavebeenac-vtuated .by the coke extractor i The coke' extractor,'which maybe-suitably driven by any.

external power means, is operated at the rate corresponding to that atwhich the coal isproperly coked, thedownward movement of. the .column'beingdependent upon I the 7 speed. of the [coke extractor.

'The cokev is quenched just prior to itsreaching "the coke extractorandiits temperature is so reduced that no combustion occurs thereafter.The

accumulated coke in the hopper 46 is dumped m into. cars or suitableconveyors at desired in.- tervals for storage or shipment.

During the operation of. the battery, the heating walls 13 and the sidewalls 14 and 15 reach fairly high temperatures and heatis conducted tothe frames 19,"-including their hollow flanges 27. Since the air ducts36and 37 are connected to the atmosphere, a draft occurs through thehollow flanges 227 and their connected parts and heatedair istherebyconducted to the atmosphere; at the sides of the battery. Theoperation of the air-coolingv system thus provided operates to dissipateheat from theframes 19 andthe lower portion of the battery and thusmaintains these-parts at comparatively low temperature. v V

In addition, the refractory-linings 41 for theframes prevent. anyconsiderable portion of the heat from the columns ofcoke from beingtransmitted through the supporting frames and the coke isquenched almostim mediately after leaving the frames by the water and steam that.is-generated therefrom.

The result of the use 'ofthe supporting means having air-cooling meansand the heatinsulating means incorporated therein is to materiallyreduce the temperatures obtaining in the supportingstructure and thebase of the battery and thereby diminish the expansion of thesupportingstructure that has heretofore attended the operation of coke ovenbatteries. Furthermore, the provision of expansion joints, in additionto the low temperatures of the frames, foundation-from forces tending tospread them and which might cause their fracture or their failure.

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relieves the for the entire base of the brickwork and there can be noleakage of gas-through the joints of thelatter. The direct connection ofthe supporting frames and the coke extractor re-. sults in a shorterstructure beneath the battery and effects a saving in totalheight.

I have provided simple and efficient means in the form of a trough forpreventing excess quenching waterfrom coming in contact with thequenched coke and the trough is so arranged that it may beqmoved fromwithout the extractor to render it fully operative.

The foregoing and other advantages will be apparent to'those skilled inthe art "to whichmy invent-ion relates. My invention ma: be variouslymodified and it is'understood that it is not to'be limited excepttas eX-pressed in the appended claims.

. I claim as my invention:

1. In a vertical coke oven battery, the combination with a main ovenstructure, of supifo lib

porting means therefor comprising spaced outer members and bridgingmembers-there- :between and supported thereby, and an expansion jointbetween each of said bridging members and one of said outer members.

2. In a vertical coke oven battery, the'com- :binationwith a main ovenstructure compris ing a plurality of ovens having openings through thebase of said structure, of supporting members for said structure,.eachof said members having an opening conforming to that of an oven,and the side edges of said members having gas-tight expansion jointstherebetween whereby the base of the oven structure is entirely coveredand leakage of gas therethrou'gh is prevented.

3. In a coke oven battery, the combination with a plurality of verticalretort ovens each comprising two adjacent sidewalls andan ovenchamber'therebetween and having a'bottom opening, of supporting meansfor said battery comprising foundation walls along the periphery of thebattery and bridging members extending between said foundation walls,said bridging members each having an opening conforming to the bottomopening of anoven chamber and having a gas-tight connection to adjacentbridging members and having also an expansion joint connection to thefoundation walls. a V

4. i In a vertical coke oven battery, the combination with a main ovenstructure comprising spaced foundation members, a plurality of ovenshaving openings through the base of said structure, of metallicsupporting members for said structure supported by said foundationmembers and having openings conforming to the openings of said ovens andhaving adjacent side'edges that have a gastight connection therebetweenfor providing a bottom covering for said oven structure for preventingleakage of gas therethrough;

5. In a coke oven, the combination with a vertical retort ovencomprising two adjacent walls that are spaced to provide a verticalretort oven chamber therebetween and having a bottom opening, of meansfor supporting portions of said walls surrounding said oven chamber,said means comprising foundation walls and a metallic frame extendingbetween said foundation walls and havingan opening conforming to thebottom opening of said oven supported thereby and having hollow portionsadjacent to the oven walls and communicating with the atmosphere forcirculating air for cooling said frame and the adjacent portions of theoven walls'andthereby restricting the spreading of said foundationwalls.

.6; In a coke oven, the combination with a vertical retort ovencomprising two adjacent walls that are spaced to provide a verticalretort oven chamber therebetweemsaid chamberhaving a bottom opening, ofmeans for supporting portions of said walls surrounding saidoven-chamber, said means comprising two spaced foundation walls'and' ametalli'c member extending betweenand' directly supported by saidfoundation walls and having an opening conforming to the bottom openingof said oven'chamber and having also a hollowportion adjacent to theoven walls and communicating with the atmos phere to provide an inletand anou'tlet for air for cooling said metallic memberand the adjacentportions of said oven walls. I

7.. In a vertical coke-oven structure, the combination with a pluralityof-spaced found'ation walls, a retort oven having'side walls forbridging the space betwensaid founder; tionwalls, of a metallic bridgingmember extending between and connected to said foundation walls forsupporting portions of said side walls and having hollow portionsadjacent to said side walls that are adapted to allow air to circulatetherethroughtopro-"j vide cooling means therefor for restricting theforces tending to spread said foundation walls. i

'8. In a vertical co'keoven, thecombination with a main ovenstructurecomprising a retort oven having a bottom opening, of supportingmeans therefor comprising spaced outer members, a metallic bridgingmember therebetween and supported thereby, said bridging member havingan opening therethrough and conforming substantially to that of saidoven and having also hollow portions surrounding said bottom opening andadjacent the bottom portion of'said oven structure for admitting air forcooling said bridging member and the bottom portion of said ovenstructure to restrictthe temperatures thereof and thereby limit stresseson said outer members tending to'separate them.

9. In a coke oven,-th'e combination with a main oven structurecomprising a vertical retort oven and walls'therefor, said oven having avbottom opening, of side supporting members for said structure and ametallic frame. member connected to said sidemenr bers and extendingtherebetween for sup porting the intermediate oven structure, saidmember having hollow portions for admitting air adjacent to the bottomportions of said walls for cooling said member and said bottomportions-of said walls and thereby limiting the forces tending to spreadthe supporting members. I

10.- In a cokeoven, the combination with a vertical retort ovencomprising two adjacent walls that are spacedto provide a verticalretort oven chamber therebetween', said chamher having a bottom opening,of means for supporting portions ofsa'id walls, said means comprising ametallic member having an opening therethrough conformingxto the bot-otomopening of said oven chamber and having also a hollow portionsurrounding said opening in said member and adjacent-to said walls, saidhollow portion being connected at its .top and bottom to the atmosphereto constitute air-cooling means for said walls.

11. In a coke oven, the combination with a vertical retort ovencomprising two adjacent Walls that are spaced to provide a verticalretort oven chamber therebetween, said chamber having a bottom opening,of means for supporting portions of said walls, said means ,comprising ametallic member having an opening therethrough conforming to the bot tomopening of said oven chamber and having also ahollow portion surroundingsaid opening in said member and adjacent to said walls, said hollowportion being connected at its top and bottom to the atmosphere toconstitute air-cooling means for said walls, and a refractory lining forsaid member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 9th'day ofApril, 1927.

JOSEPH VAN ACKEREN.

